I-S-U looks to topple Toledo

The Iowa State Cyclones open the football season tonight at home with their first-ever meeting with Toledo. The Cyclones are coming off a 7-5 season and have gone to bowl games the past two years. Out of the Mid-American Conference, Toledo was 9-3 last season and won the G-M-A-C Bowl.

I-S-U coach Dan McCarney says they know Toledo will come in with a lot at stake, and he says they’ve had his staff’s attention for a long time. A year ago the Cyclones struggled early in the opener against Illinois State before winning 32-21.

McCarney says they cannot afford a slow start in this game, as he says they’ll have their hands full as this is a much better team than Illinois State. McCarney says Toledo has gotten some big road wins over the years.

The offense is experienced and McCarney says a strong running game will help keep a young defense off the field. He says the longer a game goes the better it is for his offense and he hopes they can have more offensive than defensive snaps. Kickoff in Jack Trice Stadium is seven o’clock.